Six tips for driving safely in winter

While many parts of Europe have not yet seen much snow, other parts of the world like the USA and Canada, have had their fair share of winter fun and winter dangers already. Driving in winter time can be a challenge. Experts from the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) present their top six tips for safer winter driving.
 

Winter time is danger time: this season is marked by longer periods of darkness and cold and severe weather. People are bundled up in thick clothing, their glasses steam up, their boots slide on icy roads. Winter wear tends to be made of dark colors, making pedestrians invisible to drivers.
 

“The winter is a particularly hazardous season for drivers,” says Dr. Christoph Lauterwasser, Managing Director of the AZT. “Accidents on icy roads or during blizzards tend to lead to more severe damage or injuries than accidents under normal weather conditions. Waiting for assistance in the cold and dark, can also increase the severity of injuries. On the other hand, some drivers decide to stay home when conditions get bad, which is a very good decision and ensures that accident statistics don't go through the roof in the winter time.”

The easiest piece of advice for driving in bad or difficult conditions, is to simply slow down. That may be easier said than done, if you are rushing to a meeting, which means that you may need to plan more time for your trips in the winter.
 

“When it’s wet outside or there is a chance of ice, it is really important, that drivers slow down,” says Christoph Lauterwasser. “Accidents at slower speed are not as severe, as those at high speed. And of course, avoiding an accident at lower speed is also easier, because your reaction time is longer. Drivers also tend to underestimate the extended braking time and the danger of skidding on snow and ice.”
 

Drivers often underestimate their speed and reaction abilities, especially when they drive a certain journey regularly and feel comfortable.

Tip 1: Slow down

Winter time is window defrosting time – at least for those drivers, who are not lucky enough to have a garage or live in warm climates. Windows also tend to steam up from the inside. Snow can slide from the roof onto the windshield and driving through a snow storm is an experience most people would gladly go without.
 

In a study and survey conducted by the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) over 40 percent of the drivers questioned by Allianz indicated that they occasionally wipe their windshields inside the car to get rid of condense water while driving.
 

“When driving without proper driver sight, you are acting carelessly and can be blamed in case of an accident,” says Dr. Joerg Kubitzki, road safety expert at the AZT. “Proper sight for the driver includes a sufficiently free windscreen, side windows and outer mirrors.”
 

While it may take some time prior to setting off, making sure you can see out of the windows can save your life or that of another traffic participant.
 

Risk Pulse Distracted Driving

Tip 2: Don’t drive blindly because of snow, rain or ice

Particularly in the mountains we often find more snow than we are used to. However, snow not only covers the landscape, but also the road signs and lane markers. These must nevertheless be observed and you may need to look carefully to find your lane.
 

“The driver is always responsible, so you need to drive in such a way that you can observe all road conditions and road signs,” says Dr. Joerg Kubitzki.
 

A road sign that has been set up properly remains in force, even if snow has rendered it illegible. For example, octagons are always stop signs and are always in force - even if they have been covered by snow. Similarly, an upside-down triangle always means “yield”.
 

With all other signs, drivers need to take special care. After all, they may mean speed limits or warn of dangers lurking ahead.

Tip 3: Be aware of snow covered road signs and lane markers

Different countries have different laws: some require winter tires, others just simply require “adequate” tires. (Winter adequacy is symbolized on the side of the tire by a snowflake with the letters “M+S” or with a mountain symbol. “M+S” indicates an intermediate tire. Only the snowflake in combination with the mountain symbol really indicates a winter tire.)
 

The most important thing for tires is the quality of their tread. If the tread is insufficient, the tire will tend to loose contact to the ground and swim in wet conditions, making the car uncontrollable. If you are not sure whether your tires have enough tread, you can use the coin test. In Europe for example, you can insert a one-euro coin into the tread, whereas in the US it’s a penny. If the gold rim of the euro is showing, or you can completely see Lincoln’s head on the penny, your tread is too thin.
 

"For your own safety and the safety of other traffic participants, tires should be renewed or changed early," says Carsten Reinkemeyer, Head of Vehicle Technology and Safety at AZT. "Using summer tires all winter is a serious problem, but the same goes for using tires with insufficient tread.”
 

People also underestimate snow chains. They may have them, but they have never tried putting them on. “Trying to put snow chains on your tires, when you are already half way up a hill, with frostbite on your fingers, is not a good idea,” says Reinkemeyer “Also make sure that your snow chains still fit, if you recently changed your car.”

Children are the most vulnerable traffic participants, especially when accident risks are higher due to difficult winter road conditions with their increased risk. In winter, thick coats may offer protection against the cold, but in cars they can become a hazard, especially for children. Sweaters and cuddly coats make it particularly difficult to secure children correctly in their car seats. While they may keep children warm and cozy, they prevent safety belts from running tight and close to the body. To ensure that there is no extra space between your child's body and the safety belt, it is best to take your child's coat off before starting on your journey. The coat can then be used as a cuddly cover over the belt.
 

Carsten Reinkemeyer explains, what is essential for proper seat belt routing: first of all, in order to hold the upper body in place, the shoulder belt must not slip off the shoulder and must lie on the collarbone near to the neck. Proper seat belt routing of the lap belt is just as important, because injuries of the abdomen are even more dangerous than marks on the throat.
 

"Our tests showed that the child dummy slips through under the belt, if the lap belt’s routing is incorrect. This is called “submarining” and can cause severe or even fatal injuries,“ says Carsten Reinkemeyer. „The pelvis restraint needs special attention when buckling up your child: the lap belt must lie flat on the upper legs directly in front of the pelvic bones. This ensures that the belt cannot slip over the pelvis’ iliac crest into the abdomen. Never forget that only your child’s bones can withstand the forces during an accident.”
 

In any case, adults should also think about their clothing, which is bulkier in winter time, with respect to the seat belt’s routing.

Tip 5: Be sure to buckle up your children correctly in winter

While it may be OK to just set off and go in the summer, it is wise to consider the weather before you get in your car during the winter when going away.
 

“Make sure that your car is “winter-safe”,” says Joerg Kubitzki. “Apart from such basics as checking for enough antifreeze fluids in the wiper system, remember to always have an ice scraper and gloves, in order to be able to use the ice scraper. You may need a small but long-shafted broom to uncover your car and get rid of sliding snow on the roof. You might also need a small shovel to free your wheels of snow piles. Older cars may also have frozen door locks, and that’s where a pocket lighter is useful.”
 

Another good idea for people travelling to remote areas in winter is to have their mobile phone charged and to let someone know that you are setting off and where you are going.
 

Joerg Kubitzki also recommends sunglasses. Sunglasses in winter? “The sun is very low in winter time and is a harsh source of dazzling or blindness.”

Tip 6: Be well equipped when travelling to snowy areas

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Christian Weishuber
Allianz SE
Phone +49.89.3800-18169
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Katerina Piro
Allianz SE
Phone +49.89.3800-16048
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